We stood atop the STRAT Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada in the dying daylight as the frigid wind swept over the high desert sands and streets far, far below. Most of the day had been on the road with a brief stop over in Tehachapi, California. My wife, daughter and I played a little in the slushy snow, exchanging snow balls and a bit of fun. It was a good break. We stretched our legs and gobbled down terrible gas station chicken. The locals seemed bored, but then again, there isn’t a whole lot of action at gas stations when compared to Vegas.
High places mentioned in the Bible are usually found foremost on mountains and not man made structures of amusement. In Genesis 19 there is an ancient account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a brutal retelling of God’s justice exacted through fire and brimstone on paganism run-amok. The story serves as an example of how life predicated on selfishness can go from bad to worse in a pound thumping heartbeat. Sodom and Gomorrah were bustling towns serving gods within the limited realm of the corrupted heart. Desires from such a place inevitably lead downward to separation from the true God on high, and therefore, death if the heart is unwilling to be redeemed.
Now, this story is rather upsetting and detestable to the postmodern reader, for it is filled with gruesome peculiarities that are not only counter to the foundational assumptions of human nature as a clean slate (as in, there is no sinful nature) but also to the ideologies of rampant subjective individualism and materialism. What bothers today’s reader did not bother previous readers. There was an acceptance that Lot and his family were engaged in a wrecked world and were equally wrecked because of their sinful nature. Everyone then was in need of divine mercy. This is clearly seen in the previous chapter of Genesis when Abraham attempts to intercede on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah with God. Abraham pleads on behalf of at least 50 righteous persons of the two communities, of which are not to be found, forcing Abraham to plead on behalf of 45, 40, 30, etc. His pleadings continue until he arrives at 10 righteous individuals. Here the conversation between Abraham and God is concluded. It’s not until we read about the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah that we realize that not even 10 were found between the two towns.
Unlike the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot, his wife and two daughters are mercifully rescued from the ensuing inferno by two angels of the Lord. “Run for your lives!” the two angels order the family, “And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” (Genesis 19:17, NLT). A high place beyond the corrupted and doomed locations is necessary for the family’s survival; furthermore, the mountains will symbolically serve as places of worship for they are often ideal locations to put much of life into perspective. The glittering lights of Vegas are appealing, enthralling even for some (watch out not to turn into a pillar of salt!), but are mere adornments when standing atop of the STRAT Tower and taking in all of the city, the roads, the houses, the shops, the casinos, the hotels, the desert, the mountains, the sky, and the clouds that glide quickly over the whole landscape. It is from the high places that God not only provides merciful rescue but also perspective and peaceful communion.
On February 19th the Interstate Association of the Church of God hosted a Men’s Retreat and Think Tank at the First Church of God Las Vegas. Deacon Mitchell Shaw of the Westside Church of God of Fresno and President of the Men’s Fellowship of the Interstate, organized and ran the event in partnership with Pastor Chris Conedy of First Church of God Las Vegas who also serves as Interstate’s Chairman. A good number of men, both young and old, from the local church and Westide served and participated during the day’s events of team building at Atomic golf, worship, the BBQ Dinner, and the Think Tank. Pastor Conedy taught on the importance of communication in a culture of change, illustrating his point by comparing older cellphones (flip phone anyone?) with today’s models. Deacon Mitchel shared from Acts 2:42-47, providing thoughtful commentary which initiated an hour long response from the younger men of the group. Here, I feel, was a sudden high place of communion that I hadn’t experienced in similar events.
Pastor’s Note: it’s three days after the event and I forgot to take notes, so I’m relying on a memory that’s since stomped around in the high desert, returned home, worked a few days of ministry/sermon prep/meetings/small groups/etc., and is now hunkered down in a Starbucks off Mooney in Visalia, California (of which two of the windows were recently shoot out with a BB gun by a few kids). Like an Impressionist, I’m not particularly hung up on the exact details of the event; rather, the great impression it left on my soul. I saw something of greatness in the leaders and the participants of the Think Tank, and saw the glory of God as “more majestic than the everlasting mountains” (Psalm 76:4).
Last year, during Interstate’s 93rd Annual Camp Meeting in Hanford, California, Deacon Shaw had briefly mentioned to me his intriguing idea for a Men’s Think Tank. During my Bible College days I had been a part of a number of groups that had operated somewhat like a think tank, and later served on the Canadian Church of God Ministries’ governance board for Western Canada where we sometimes meet and functioned like a think tank. Usually the problems we dealt with in college were broad and out of reach, while on the governance board they were specific to a mundane issue. Deacon Shaw’s Men’s Think Tank dealt with a specific problem with broad applications, and wasn’t addressed to anyone, including myself, older than the young men (17-35) in attendance. It asked a direct and meaningful question that only the young men in the room could answer. “Why are either young people not going to church or feel like they’re being dragged to church?” Again, only the young men could answer, and they did, for a full hour.
Here is the list of responses (in no particular order) as recorded by Deacon Shaw:
• Representation: Having familiar, relatable faces serving makes us want to serve.
• Communication: We prefer to be contacted via text, FaceTime, or phone call.
• Inclusion & Relevance: The church often feels too uniform and doesn’t accommodate everyone’s needs. We feel unfulfilled when teaching isn’t geared toward us or doesn’t involve us.
• Clarity in Worship: We often feel disconnected because we don’t understand the “why” behind certain traditions or styles of worship. We need these things explained to remove roadblocks.
• Active Participation: Give us consistent roles in the service and the life of the church, not just on “Youth Sundays.” Assigning duties makes us feel relevant and encourages our peers and younger children to get involved.
• Transparency regarding Struggles: It is hard to be a Christian at our age. The older generation sometimes sets a standard of perfection that feels impossible to attain.
• Teaching Styles: Relevance is a must. We need Life Groups specific to our age group and teaching that is applicable to our daily lives. Many of us are visual/digital learners; we suggest incorporating smartphones or technology into small groups and services.
• Environment: Some older members speak to us with a “superior mindset,” which feels disrespectful. Unwanted pressure to perform can feel judgmental.
• Engagement: Sit down with us to assess where we fit best. When we are engaged and part of the church body, we have a reason to want to be there.
• Attention Spans: Please be mindful that our attention spans are generally shorter.
During the Think Tank phase the young men not only answered candidly about the question, but they were full of passion and concern for their generation. The time of worship and teaching previous to this helped to bring us part way up the mountain while the responses in the room brought us to the top. Just as the previous generations dealt with the ongoing problems of a spiritual Sodom and Gomorrah so too is this next generation, for the issues are no longer primarily found in a given location but now reside in the smart devices that we carry in our pockets and use everywhere. “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is a long standing motto that’s no longer applicable since the worst of Vegas (and any town for that matter) is easily accessed in the palm of our hands. The need to escape volcanic-hellish doom by the gracious mountains of faith we find in Jesus is our only remedy. May His mercy deliver all of us and never to the exclusion of any generation, old or young.
With this Men’s Think Tank being a success, Deacon Shaw has already planned for next year’s, February 26-27. Thank you to Pastor Conedy and the First Church of God in Las Vegas for hosting the event, as well as Deacon Shaw for following through on what the Lord laid on his heart in 2025. Thank you as well for all who attended, and especially for the young men who shared their hearts for the sake of the Gospel. Most of all, thanks be to God, for it is by His grace that we are saved and brought to wonderful heights.
It’s a New Day,
Pastor Aaron Talbot
